The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-07-30


lidn't, l can tell you. took five
Igs in the first week, one and sinxpece
Ie second. The third we were left to
Selves. The fishermen at last gave up
joke of hustling one another in with
request to me to Take him handsome
his young woman Even the small
10y population got tired of us, and left our
window unsmeared by inquisitive noses.
Then I tramped over to Belminster to see
if could raise enough on some Of our pos
sessions to take us back to die-if starve
we muslin London.
~ found Belminster ferment with the
stir and excitement of the race week. No
murmur of it had drifted over to us. The
flag waved over Cliffe Castle, showing that
some of the family were there; also, the
short cut across the park was boarded up,
and | had an extra mile and half of road
to tramp. That was all the Earl's coming
had done for Daisyclife.
81 reached home dog-tired and utterly
cast down. Teresita met me with a smile
and a good dinner. She was never dis
heartened in the worst of times. She
could make merry over crust, sing and
cuddle the baby, and invent excuses for the
young swindler Tonino just as if We hadn't
changed our last gold coin. L listened
gloomily to her and answered sharply, till
sudden, unfamiliar sound sienced US BOTH
The studio bell
ave were in the little outer Office in a
minute. A figure stood there with its
back to us contemplating the photographs
in a case on the wall-a small figure, a
dingy figure, figure in a bell-crowned felt
hat perched on a shock head of hair, sur
mounting a suit of ragged yelveteen termi-
mating in lace-up mans boot and a trod-
den-out highlow-a boy, and boy with
tramp and gypsy written on every inch
of him.
~ strobe in upon him wrathfully; 'what
are you doing here?' demanded.
aNowise abashed, he turned and faced
me. Did you make all thcseT he asked.
will you please make picture of me :?
81 stood fairly transfxed at the audacity
of the imp He was a slight slip of lad
perhaps twelve or thirteen years old,
with small childish face as brown as a
nut. He had clawed his hat off as he spoke,
and his hair fell over his eyes in elfocks
black as a coal. A red handkerchief was
twisted round his slender brown throat,
and he had stuck sprig of honeysuckle in
his buttonhole. He carried blackthorn
stick, and l noticed he leaned upon it and
walked with limp. took all this in
instinctively, suppose, for of my first look
at him remember nothing but his eyes.
"They were cast down when he first ad
dressed me, but as he spoke, up swept the
heavy black lashes and out flashed from
under the shadow of his elfocks two great
dazzling gray stars. A positive shock
seemed to pass through me in that second
an odd, unaccountable thrill such as nc
boys eyes ever caused in this world before
Perhaps it was only the startling incon
gruity of those clear light glancing irises
with the coal-black brows and swarthy skin
1 couldn't resist provoking another look.
"'Come, get out of this. What made
you think of coming here?' The lone
lashes quivered but never lifted. He stooC
fumbling in the bosom of his dingy waist
coat and dragged out crumpled piece O
paper folded and refolded into a wad
Then came the look l had been waiting
for-the sudden fash of gray lightning
from under the cloudy brows.
"'A begging letter, eh ? But / took j
and unfolded it very slowly, watching thu
boys face as did so. Itwas clever face
square-chinned, with resolute, delicate
mouth and impudent upturned noise
When he saw that l meant to read tn,
letter grin of delight showed all his gleam
ing teeth, and he nodded to himself, as i
he considered his business settled. Here's
the letter. You can SEQ for yourself"
Moroni searched in his pocketbook anc
found it.
MY DEAR JAKE: Although no friend
as you are aware, to tramps and pikey
such as yourself, yet must say l alway
found you steady and well meaning, Jake
and certainly of use in the matter of Nh
, BlIssett's sick COW, which is why IS frien,
| would not wish you to hear unpreparet
that your poor mother, coming home iron
hopping, was knocked down by a farm cart
jim Davis driving and not as sober as h
might have been, and was taken for dea,
to the county hospital, where she now lies
, as l saw with my own eyes last visitors
day, kept as comfortable as if she were
,, lady, but almost out of her mind with fret
ting after you, which is naturally very try
ing to all about her. Il want Jake; just
sight of Jake she goes on continual, an
/. keeps your old red handkerchief under he
pillow and talks to it like a Christian
, Now, Jake, always liked you, and woul
never hear but that there are two sides t
story, even when it is ones own ia
, NIichaelmas goose There were othe
! pikeys about besides yourself, Jake, and
! don't think you would go to harm you
friends, SO do, like good boy, come bac
at once and give the poor soul some CON
fort if YOU was but to hear her. You
friend rs you behave,
LOUISA BLIssETT.
5 II read this aloud to Teresita, who can
in with our boy in her arms.
"'Why don't you go? At once 81
a cried.
: 'The boy hung his head and faltered OF
a long explanation. Michael had brougi
t him thereto Belminster. Michael WI
one of their tribe. They had a horse
2 sell, and nobody but he, Jake, could MAJ
$ age it. 1t was point of honor to stay.
y a'Rut they told me-that you could
f my picture-as like as life-and | cou
send it by one of our people,
f "'How do you mean to pay for it 2
a'When the horse is sold he begt
/ eagerly.
e a'Thank you, my good boy, but I don't
y work on credit
/ atAh, the poor child 7 Teresita broke i
Think, Cesarino milo, it is for his mothe
S We are poor, dreadfully poor, but we ci
d help him, and the Holy Mother above wi
n not let us be the poorer;
n